Arlington County Court Records

The Virginia Judicial System confers statutory authority to handle all legal matters on Arlington County General District Court, Circuit Court, Domestic Relations, and Juvenile Court District Court. Along with overseeing civil, traffic, criminal proceedings, and public appeals, these courts also file, generate, index, and preserve records of case proceedings. These records are termed “court records”.

Under Section 17.1-292 of the Virginia Code, Arlington County court records are vital archives containing events and outcomes of diverse court proceedings filed and adjudicated within the jurisdiction. These records contribute to the profound transparency and accountability of the justice system by providing a thorough summary of closed and active cases, including court verdicts. Legal practitioners, researchers, media, and the general public can access these records for due diligence, retrials, and legal precedents.

The central repository of court records in Arington County is the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Per Va.Code § 17.1-208, the circuit court clerk's office may provide different means for inspecting and requesting copies of certified court records subject to a reasonable fee charged by the clerk.

However, a court record does not constitute official documents recorded by or on behalf of a judge or magistrate concerning a specific case, including personal drafts, preparatory files, annotations, and preliminary notes.

Are Court Records Public in Arlington County?

Yes. The general public may inspect and obtain copies of court records generated and preserved during legal proceedings in Arlington County. Under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), all public records maintained by government bodies are subject to public disclosure.

Still, the judiciary is exempt from the FOIA policy. Instead, Title 17.1 (Courts of Record) and Title 16.1 (Courts Not of Record) of the Code of Virginia guide the availability of such records. In this case, “Courts Not of Record”, include all Arlington County courts below the jurisdictional level of the circuit courts, like the general district courts, and juvenile and domestic relations courts.

The courts may keep accounts of legal events in these courts, however the records are temporary. A few other confidential court records include:

• Juvenile court records
• Case files that are subject to attorney-client privilege.
• Medical files
• Mental health records
• Adoption records
• Sealed court records
• Court records relating to a civil protection order

Arlington County Court Records Search

Arlington County Courts provide several channels of access to court records heard and maintained within the county. The general public can conduct Arlington County Court records searches via the following means:

• Local courthouse
• Arlington County Circuit Court Clerk’s office
• Virginia Case Management System
• Third-party public records search database

Arlington County Court Records Search by Name

An Arlington County court records search by name is one method public members can obtain case information, besides other parameters. To commence this type of inquiry, record seekers can contact the local Clerk of the Court where the case was filed and heard.

Typically, a court records search by name requires at least the first or last name of the case parties, either the plaintiff, defendant, or legal attorney. As mentioned, other inquiry details like the partial last name, case number, hearing date, or court level can be used to narrow the search and aid quick retrieval.

Again, individuals can explore the following alternatives to conduct an Arlington court records search by name:

• Visit the public kiosks situated in the County Court Clerk’s office on the sixth floor.
• Email or personally deliver a written record request to the Clerk's office stating the name of the case parties.
• Authorized users can explore the Arlington County Clerk's secure remote access to non-confidential case records.
• Visit the Virginia Courts Case Information Portal

Admittedly, clerks of the court may charge a nominal fee for reproducing copies of court records. Albeit, one can view case information at no cost.

Arlington County Courts

Virginia’s 17th Judicial Circuit in Arlington County houses several courts overseeing the diverse affairs of the judicial system. These courts adjudicate and deliver verdicts at the following locations:

Arlington County Courthouse
1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 6700
Arlington, Virginia 22201
Phone: (703) 228-7010

General District Court
1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 2400
2nd Floor
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 228-7900

Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court
1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 4100
4th floor
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (703) 228-4500

Drug Court
1425 North Courthouse Road
Courtroom 10A
Arlington, VA 22201

Arlington County Superior Court Case Search

There is no designated “superior court” in the Arlington County judicial system. The only existing one is run by the state. Virginia Supreme Court serves as a court of last resort for reviewing the judgments of the local circuit courts and the court of appeals.

However, Arlington County Circuit Court is Virginia’s only general jurisdiction trial court for all types of civil and criminal cases. The 17th Judicial Circuit Court exercises judiciary authority over legal cases filed within the county and appeals from the City of Falls Church Court. For example, civil cases like probate, marriage and divorce, disputes over land use and ownership, civil claims over $4,500 but not exceeding $25,000, adoptions, equity suits, writs of mandamus, estates, and contracts.

This includes criminal cases such as misdemeanor and felony charges, certiorari, and appeals from the General District Court or Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court and administrative agencies

Records generated during these case proceedings are kept and dispensed by the Arlington Circuit Court Clerk’s office. To request copies of case files, individuals can email any of these addresses:

• For Civil case documents: civil-docrequest@arlingtonva.us
• For Criminal case documents: CCT-DocRequest@arlingtonva.us

Obtaining copies of court records may attract a charge of 50 cents per page and an additional fee of $2 for each certified copy. Fees are payable in person through cash, credit or debit card, check, and money order addressed to “Arlington County Circuit Court”. Acceptable mail payments are checks and money orders, payable to “Arlington County Circuit Court”.

Payments must be confirmed before copies are delivered. However, all fees are waived if the requester is a defendant in said criminal case. Typically, turnaround time takes around two business days depending on the volume of requests.

Copies of certified records are available for pick-up at the court clerk’s office during business hours. They can also be mailed to the address of the recipient. Nonetheless, one can receive plain uncertified copies via email. Requesters are advised to submit the correct details when requesting these documents.

Furthermore, Arlington County Circuit Court provides read-only secure remote access to publicly accessible non-confidential civil and criminal documents dated 2010 to the present. However, authorized users are attorneys licensed by the Virginia State Bar, or admitted pro hac vice in a case adjudicated in the Arlington Circuit Court. Eligible subscribers must complete the subscriber agreement and also pay the required subscription fee set at the discretion of the court clerk.

Other members of the public can access the Virginia Circuit Court Case Information at no cost to view case documents filed in Arlington Circuit Court.

Arlington County District Court Records

The Commonwealth of Virginia statutorily recognizes two levels of district courts, one for adults and the other for juveniles. In Arlington County District Court, cases such as adult criminal misdemeanor cases and preliminary hearings to specify probable cause in criminal felonies, involuntary mental commitment hearings, criminal warrants, traffic summonses, and civil claims for damages not greater than $25,000 are managed.

On the other hand, the Arlington County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District (JDR) courts exercise original jurisdiction over juvenile and delinquent legal affairs under Va. Code § 16.1-361. As earlier mentioned in the previous section, Virginia categorizes the JDR courts as district courts, meaning that they are not “courts of record” and therefore do not hold jury trials.

In this regard, all cases are adjudicated by a presiding judge of the JDRC. However, case parties may appeal the final verdicts of the court to the County Circuit Court which is classified as a “court of record” and may involve a jury trial.

The JDRC files and adjudicates daily cases involving juvenile traffic infractions, child support services, child neglect or abuse, child custody and visitation support, parentage, termination of parental rights, child emancipation or work permits, juvenile rehabilitation, medical and mental health treatments; and court-ordered blood testing of minors.

Requesters can request such records of these legal proceedings via the Arlington County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The office provides the following record retrieval means:

• Obtain record through the Clerk’s office in person, by email, or mail during office hours as explained above
• Access the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System

To view district court case information on the Online Case Information System, individuals can follow these instructions:

• On a browser, navigate to the Virginia General District Court Online Case Information System
• Read and accept the site usage disclaimer at the bottom
• To begin a case search, enter the county general district court. In this case “Arlington County”. Then, select the applicable county from the drop-down menu to the left
• Enter the plaintiff or defendant’s name, case number, or hearing date into the provided boxes
• Users may access information on service of process in a case, for example, summons or subpoena by inputting the name of the individual served
• Information on “Service/Process” is typically categorized under the “Case Details” of case search results
• Likewise, information regarding grounds of defense or bill of particulars is accessible under “Reports”

It is noteworthy to mention that the General District Court Online Case Information System does provide information regarding cases such as protective orders, preliminary protective orders, medical emergency custody, and civil commitment proceedings (for example, involuntary commitments, emergency custody orders, and temporary detention orders).

Arlington County Criminal Records

Public dissemination of Arlington County criminal records is subject to the VA Code. § 19.2-389. This ensures that the management of public records is uniform throughout the Commonwealth. Hence, public members can follow the procedures of the state law enforcement departments to request criminal records. Still, juvenile criminal information is protected from public consumption.

To get Arlington County arrest records and criminal records, eligible record seekers can query the Virginia Department of State Police (VSP), the chief custodian of the commonwealth’s criminal records. Parties can follow the outlined procedures of the VSP’s Central Criminal Records Exchange unit to obtain criminal records. The following steps are familiar:

• Members of the public can download and submit the SP-167 or SP-230 form
• Form SP-167 is specifically for eligible parties seeking to obtain a person’s criminal background, provided they submit their notarized signature and that of the subject of the record
• Conversely, the SP-230 form is earmarked for requests involving adult day care centers, district homes for adults, foster care agencies, licensed and unlicensed child care centers, hospital pharmacy employees, and assisted living facilities.
• Unlike the previous form, this request does not demand notarized signatures or the subject’s consent. However, only Virginia conviction data are provided to eligible organizations. This includes the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, state lottery, foster care homes, domestic/international adoption agencies, armed and unarmed security guard companies, gaming commissions, and other approved government and volunteer entities.

Virginal law demands the submission of fingerprints for a state and federal search at $13 for the VSP’s Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE) search and $13.25 for the Federal Bureau of Investigation file. That said, detailed information is provided on Fingerprinting for Non-Criminal Purposes.

Finally, anyone who requires a national background check can get it through the FBI.

Arlington County Criminal Court Case Lookup

In Arlington, the circuit and district court preside over criminal cases within the county, such as criminal felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic. Records from these proceedings are managed and disseminated by the Arlington County Circuit Clerk’s office. Hence, persons of interest can submit a written or oral request to the office as previously explained.

Still, the Virginia court system provides a statewide Online Case Information System 2.0 for anyone to look up criminal court case information. To retrieve case files, follow the following steps:

• On a browser, navigate to the Online Case Information System 2.0
• Accept the disclaimer at the bottom
• Input case party name, case number, or hearing date
• Select court level (circuit, district, or juvenile and domestic relations court)
• Choose court division (criminal or traffic)
• Select the applicable county, in this case, “Arlington County”

However, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Online Case Information System does not provide restricted criminal juvenile information.

Get Arlington County Civil Court Records

Arlington County Civil Court records are the official documentation of noncriminal legal proceedings and events observed within the county's circuit or district civil courts. These courts share concurrent jurisdiction over civil claims over $4,500 but not exceeding $25,000. Other civil matters such as divorces, adoptions, land use and ownership disputes, estates, and contracts are filed and heard in the circuit court.

Records generated during these civil court proceedings are maintained and issued by the Civil Division of the Clerk’s office at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Suite 6700, Arlington Virginia 22201. To request copies of Arlington County Civil Court records, individuals can query the office in person, via mail, email a written request to civil-docrequest@arlingtonva.us, or call (703) 228-7010 during official business hours.

Most importantly, the circuit court’s clerk provides a record request form for obtaining civil case records filed in the Arlington Circuit Court. Applicants are required to state the type of record they need (plain or certified), alongside the names of the plaintiff or defendant and case number. Requests can be submitted in person or via mail. If submitting by mail, individuals must include a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address provided in the form.

Copies of civil court records may attract a charge of 50 cents per page and $2 per page of certified files. As a matter of convenience, Virginia’s Online Case Information System for the district and circuit courts is an alternative means of searching civil case documents.

Arlington County Family Court Records

In Arlington County, there is no designated “family court” for family court matters. Instead, such cases are handled by the circuit and JDR courts respectively. This includes family cases like adoption, child visitation, spousal support, parentage, minor labor emancipation, child abuse, and neglect.

Residents may query the Clerk of the Circuit Court's office at the local courthouse where the case was filed and concluded. The court provides diverse options for retrieval of such information, including walk-in visits, mail, or email.

Still, Virginia law imposes restrictions on certain family court records bearing sensitive information that may jeopardize a person’s living conditions or safety. If this applies, only parties to the case and legal representatives may receive court-ordered access for official purposes.

Arlington Dissolution of Marriage Records

Anyone requesting Arlington County dissolution of marriage records can contact the local Clerk of the Circuit Court’s office. The Clerk provides simple retrieval methods of record retrieval just like other court documents. Records can be viewed and purchased in person at the office location during working hours, or via mail.

The clerk’s office charges inquirers 50 cents for regular copies and $2 for certification. One can also order copies of dissolution of marriage records via the Virginia Department of Health’s online application in the next section.

Arlington County Marriage and Divorce Records

The Arlington County Clerk of the Circuit Court's office is the chief custodian of marriage and divorce records filed within the county. Records can be retrieved in person, via email, or online.

Marriage Records

To get Arlignton County marriage licenses, residents can submit a marriage license application in person to the clerk’s office or pre-apply online. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office only offers in-person marriage license applications by appointment. Generally, applicants who apply online via Arlington County's Digital Marriage License Application will receive an email from noreply@verisiform to schedule an official appointment.

Applicants are advised to check their spam or junk folder if they miss the notification. Couples are not required to be residents of Arlington County to obtain a marriage license. However, the marriage must occur within the county or Commonwealth of Virginia.

The clerk’s office expects applicants to fulfill the following requirements:

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old
• Present a valid photo ID (For example, a US driver’s license, passport, or Military ID)
• Fill out and submit the online marriage license application

Once the license is issued, it is only valid for 60 days from the issuing date. Arlington marriage license costs $30 payable by cash or credit card, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover only including a 4% service charge of the total amount.

Arlington County Circuit Court’s Clerk also provides certified copies of marriage licenses. Copies cost $2.50 per one in check payment form payable to the “Clerk of the Circuit Court”. To expedite license request, customers can submit an Arlington marriage license request form by mail to:

The Clerk of the Circuit Court
Attn: Marriage License
1425 North Courthouse Road
Suite 6700
Arlington VA 22201

Finally, requests sent by mail must include the following details:

• Full name of both applicants
• Location of marriage
• Date of marriage
• A self-addressed stamped envelope

Mail requests typically require 7 to 10 business days. The Arlington Marriage and Circuit Court Clerk’s office takes inquiries and questions about certified copy requests at (703) 228-3113 and (703) 228-7010 respectively.

Divorce Records

Arlington County Circuit Court’s Civil Intake Division is the processing department for divorces and marriage annulments in the county. Once a divorce filing is official, involved parties may request a certified copy of the Final Decree of Divorce. The clerk receives requests in person, via a written request, or by email to civil-docrequest@arlingtonva.us. Each page costs 50 cents and an additional $2 for certification.

In addition, the Virginia Department of Health classifies marriage and divorce records as part of the Arlington County Vital Records family. These records are typically issued through standard processing and express delivery. Requesters can receive Virginia divorce and marriage records dated 1918, and 1936 respectively. In general, online applications for vital records require two weeks of processing time from submission.

Arlington County Birth and Death Records

Arlington Birth and Death records are accessible through the Vital Records Office of the Virginia Department of Health. Still, only eligible parties can request and obtain copies of these records. This includes parties who share a direct relationship with the subject. For example, parents, spouses, siblings, grandparents, and legal guardians provided they present valid identification to this fact.

The Commonwealth of Virginia issues birth and death records dated 1912 to the present. However, vital records are typically treated as confidential information. Thus, the general public can only access birth records after 100 years while death records become public information after 25 years.

Eligible applicants may visit the Office of Vital Records customer service lobby at 2001 Maywill Street, Suite 101 Richmond, Virginia during business hours. The DPH offers drop-off options for completed applications at the front desk. Once the certificate is ready, the DPH will contact the applicant by phone or mail the certificate by post office mail to the given address.

Requesting parties must provide the following details:

• Applicant’s signature.
• Valid photocopy of the applicant’s ID.
• A processing fee of $12 by cash, payment card, check, money order, or mobile pay signed, and made payable to “State Health Department”.

As a matter of convenience, the DPH provides online application and express delivery options for anyone requesting birth and death certificates. Online applicants are typically issued an application tracking ID for email and SMS updates on the status of their application.

Depending on the type of certificate, applicants are required to provide the following information:

• The name(s) of the subject of record
• Parents' names
• The birth or death date
• Birth or death location
• Applicant’s name, and relationship
• Contact details
• Reason for the request

The Code of Virginia mandates a cost of non-refundable $12 per certificate search. An exception is made if the request is for a certificate of birth resulting in a stillbirth.

Arlington County Probate Court Records

The Probate process in Arlington County involves the following:

• Handling a decedent’s estate,
• Probating a decedent’s will
• Appointing a decedent’s estate executor or administrator
• Fair distribution of assets

The Arlington County Clerk of the Circuit Court is in charge of all probate process within the county. Thus, the office acts as the custodian of probate records. To obtain Arlington County probate court records, parties of interest can make a written or oral request to the Clerk's office during business hours. Probate case requests can also be sent via email to probate@arlingtonva.us.

Arlington County Property Records

Arlington County property records provide comprehensive information regarding real and personal property situated within the county, such as property ownership, transfer, taxation, and liens. Real estate information is treated as a public record in the county, and easily accessible in person, and online.

Copies of the property documents are maintained in the following offices:

• Department of Real Estate Assessments
• The Treasurer of Arlington County
• The Clerk of the Circuit Court

Anyone is free to examine these documents for a proper comparison of property assessments and taxes for a specific parcel of real estate. A typical property search will reveal the following details:

• The name of the property owner(s)
• The amount of the assessment
• Levied taxes as recorded in the land book

The public can also access the Arlington Property Search portal to look up property records by property address, real property code, tax statement account, and trade name (registered doing business as name). Public land records maintained by clerks of court as provided for in the Code of Va. Code § 17.1-294, et seq., may be accessed through this system.

Alternatively, one may send a written request to the Department of Real Estate Assessment at assessments@arlingtonva.us or call (703) 228-3920 for inquiries.

Arlington County Court Records Online

Government repositories are not the only sources of county court records. Public members can access such records through third-party platforms like Virginiacourtrecords.us. These companies are typically independently owned and void of government interference.

Most importantly, they collate and collect court record information across several government entities including local courts and law enforcement agencies. Thus, it is easy to conduct a statewide search for public records across the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Arlington County arrest records and property records.

Further, the user-friendly interfaces of these websites makes it easy to navigate from the convenience user’s abode. However, record retrieval may attract nominal fees especially if the volume of record request is extensive.

That said, researchers are advised to compare results from any third-party site with official court records for accuracy and completeness.